WC Kick Off!

Hello Everyone!

I’m writing this to you from Ruka, Finland, where tomorrow morning, I’ll be competing in my first World Cup of the 2018-19 season. The past few weeks since Zermatt have been a whirlwind, to say the least. After returning home and spending some time off with my family and in the gym, the US Moguls Team regrouped in Wolf Creek, Colorado, contrary to prior plans that had originally had us traveling to Kaprun, Austria instead.

Final Prep Camp

The resort was surprisingly snowy, the locals were incredibly friendly, and the training was pretty sweet. The week-long camp allowed for me to get some final touches on my jumps and exits (the venue included 10 bumps into a jump with a steep landing and a little over 10 bumps afterwards), as well as clean up my turn technique a bit. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to sum up my prep season training and go into competition season with lots of confidence.

photo by Samuel Bricker

photo by Samuel Bricker

From there, I traveled the 9 hour drive back home with a few teammates and spent my final week at home in the gym, with my family, and packing up everything for the month ahead that would take me to Finland and China for the first World Cups of the season.

Reflection

On the morning of the day I was meant to leave the United States, I received the news that my uncle had unexpectedly passed away. The following hours entailed the full realization of the news, time spent with my family, and altered travel plans that delayed my departure date by a few days. That sudden change in my emotional and familial landscape, in combination with the start of a new chapter in my ski career (marked by a new Olympic cycle), provided the opportunity for me to reflect upon my past and plunge headfirst into the inevitable future ahead of me. Below are a few of my thoughts…

Above all, the most important thing I’ve realized is simply how grateful I am for the opportunities I’ve been given. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to travel the world doing what I love most while representing the United States of America. I’m thankful that I get the opportunity to explore the world and expand my perspective. I’m thankful for my close friends and family who support me endlessly and who I know will stand by me no matter what. I’m thankful for how strong my family is in the face of emotional difficulties. I’m thankful for the fantastic US Moguls coaching staff who travel with us, leaving their personal lives behind at home. Their perseverance and dedication that they display to my teammates and I day in and day out is unmatched. I’m grateful for my teammates who have seriously come together as a collective unit this year to form the best team I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of. I’m grateful for you all, too, and the support you’ve given me — whether that be through kind words and gestures, or simply following along with me! I’m thankful for the life I lead and the path that lies ahead.

With that being said, I feel ready to attack the next few weeks of competition and leave everything out on the course!